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History & Fun Facts

The Secrets
of Jerzu

4 curiosities and stories

01

The oldest wine in the Mediterranean

Cannonau — known as Grenache in France and Garnacha in Spain — may have its origins right here in Sardinia. Analysis of grape seeds found at Nuragic sites dates vine cultivation on the island to over 3,000 years ago, making Cannonau di Jerzu one of the strongest candidates for the title of oldest wine in the Mediterranean. Its extraordinary concentration of polyphenols and resveratrol is also considered one of the reasons for the exceptional longevity of Ogliastra's inhabitants.

02

The Tacchi: stone cathedrals born from the sea

The Tacchi d'Ogliastra are limestone formations dating back to the Jurassic period, approximately 180 million years ago, when this entire area was submerged beneath a tropical sea. Erosion and tectonic uplift sculpted these characteristic stepped plateaus over millennia, with vertical walls that in some places exceed 200 metres. They are habitat for rare species such as Bonelli's eagle and the Sardinian mouflon, and represent a geological phenomenon unique in the entire Mediterranean.

03

The Cantina Antichi Poderi di Jerzu

Founded in 1950 as a cooperative of local wine growers, the Cantina Antichi Poderi di Jerzu is today one of the most important wine-producing establishments in Sardinia. It brings together over 400 member growers and produces millions of bottles every year, exported worldwide. Its architecture — a modernist building integrated into the village rock — has itself become a symbol of Jerzu. The cellars hewn directly into the living rock maintain a constant temperature ideal for ageing Cannonau.

04

Cortes Apertas: the courtyards that open to the world

Every autumn Jerzu takes part in «Cortes Apertas», the cultural event that involves the villages of Ogliastra by transforming courtyards, cellars, and private homes into exhibition spaces open to the public. In Jerzu the event takes on a special flavour: the ancient courtyards of the historic centre are fragrant with must and filled with Cannonau tastings, displays of local crafts, and traditional Sardinian music. It is the moment when the village tells its story through its most authentic flavours and traditions.

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